Field Trips

The Nature Institute (TNI) offers field trip programs to groups of students in preschool through college. Field trip programs are offered in one and a half hour blocks, Tuesday through Friday throughout the school year. Field trips must be booked 2 weeks in advance minimum.

Program Length: 1.5 hours
  • Field trips are facilitated by our staff and are one and a half hours in length.
  • We provide one field trip leader per group of 15 – 17 students.
  • You are invited to use our picnic tables and play area for self-guided lunch and free play time, before or after the program.
Program Size: 15-50 students per program
  • Please break your students into groups of no more than 15.
  • We are unable to accommodate more than 50 students at once. If you have more than 50 students, back to back or multi-day programs can be booked in order to schedule everyone in your group.
Program Cost: $7/student
  • Minimum of $105 per program, which covers 15 students.
  • Groups that have less than 15 students are welcome to book a field trip, but will still be required to pay the minimum booking fee of $105.
  • All school staff are free. Additional parent chaperones are charged at the student rate of $7/each.
  • Plan your field trip early and take advantage of the Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant. It provides schools funds for getting kids out in nature on field trips each year.
Full Day Field Adventure

For $10.50/student, you can double your learning and fun at The Nature Institute. Option to book from 9 – 1, 9:30 – 1:30, or 10 – 2! Full Day Field Adventures include 2 programs of your choice, 1 in the morning and 1 in the afternoon, with an hour long break between for lunch and playground time. Limited to 50 students or less per day.

Program Options

Preschool & Kindergarten

Available year round.

Fly over to The Nature Institute to learn about our feathered friends. Test out different beaks, play a game, and use binoculars to spot different species in the preserve. This field trip includes a game, an experiment, and a birding hike.

NGSS Standards: LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4, ESS2, ESS3

Available April through September.

Teeny, tiny creatures are all around us — you just need to get a closer look! Insects take care of many different jobs, from pollinating to decomposing. Conduct field science through exploration and use of scientific tools like magnifying glasses! Discover the importance of these tiny helpers in our ecosystem. This field trip includes an insect search, a game, and a craft to take home. 

NGSS Standards: LS1, LS3, LS4

Available year round.

Experience all 5 senses at The Nature Institute. Through hands-on activities, students will explore nature through smell, touch, hearing, smell, and even taste! This field trip includes a sensory hike, sensory activities, and a game.

1st Grade

Available April through November.

Trees and plants provide homes for animals, products for humans, and the air we breathe! Learn all about the structure of plants, as well as their important uses. This field trip includes a plant identification hike, a craft, and a plant activity.

NGSS Standards: LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4, ESS2

Available year round.

Fly over to The Nature Institute to learn about our feathered friends. Test out different beaks, play a game, and use binoculars to spot different species in the preserve. This field trip includes a game, an experiment, and a birding hike.

NGSS Standards: LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4, ESS2, ESS3

Available April through September.

Teeny, tiny creatures are all around us — you just need to get a closer look! Insects take care of many different jobs, from pollinating to decomposing. Conduct field science through exploration and use of scientific tools like magnifying glasses! Discover the importance of these tiny helpers in our ecosystem. This field trip includes an insect search, a game, and a craft to take home. 

NGSS Standards: LS1, LS3, LS4

Available year round.

Experience all 5 senses at The Nature Institute. Through hands-on activities, students will explore nature through smell, touch, hearing, smell, and even taste! This field trip includes a sensory hike, sensory activities, and a game.

2nd Grade

Available April through November.

Trees and plants provide homes for animals, products for humans, and the air we breathe! Learn all about the structure of plants, as well as their important uses. This field trip includes a plant identification hike, a craft, and a plant activity.

NGSS Standards: LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4, ESS2

Available year round.

How do scientists classify animals, and why do we do it? Students are invited to explore the scientific world of classification through hands-on activities. This field trip includes a hike, a challenge, and a visit with our box turtle.

NGSS Standards: LS3, LS4

Available year round.

Fly over to The Nature Institute to learn about our feathered friends. Test out different beaks, play a game, and use binoculars to spot different species in the preserve. This field trip includes a game, an experiment, and a birding hike.

NGSS Standards: LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4, ESS2, ESS3

Available in late March through May.

Examine life cycles through this interactive, outdoor field trip. Play a game, meet an animal up close, and take a look at the life cycles just beginning out in our pond! This field trip includes a visit with our box turtle, pond dipping, a hike, and a game. 

NGSS Standards: LS1, LS3, LS4

Available year round.

Looking for something different? This is the field trip for you! Dissect an owl pellet, play as a vomiting vulture, search for creepy crawlies in the forest, and sculpt the perfect scat. This field trip includes owl pellet dissection, a game, a hike, and a craft.

NGSS Standards: LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4

Available April through October.

Teeny, tiny creatures are all around us — you just need to get a closer look! Insects take care of many different jobs, from pollinating to decomposing. Conduct field science through exploration and use of scientific tools like magnifying glasses! Discover the importance of these tiny helpers in our ecosystem. This field trip includes an insect search, a game, and a craft to take home. 

NGSS Standards: LS1, LS3, LS4

Available April through September.

Round and round we go, exploring the water cycle! Play a game as a water droplet, learn about our local watershed, and discover what makes water so important. This field trip includes a game, creek walk, and watershed model study.

3rd – 5th Grade

Available year round.

Why do different birds have different beaks? Why do some animals play dead? Learn how physical and behavioral traits help animals to survive out in nature! This field trip includes a hike, a game, and an art challenge.

NGSS Standards: LS1, LS3, LS4

Available April through November.

Trees and plants provide homes for animals, products for humans, and the air we breathe! Learn all about the structure of plants, as well as their important uses. This field trip includes a plant identification hike, a craft, and a plant activity.

NGSS Standards: LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4, ESS2

Available year round.

How do scientists classify animals, and why do we do it? Students are invited to explore the scientific world of classification through hands-on activities. This field trip includes a hike, a challenge, and a visit with our box turtle.

NGSS Standards: LS3, LS4

Available year round.

Fly over to The Nature Institute to learn about our feathered friends. Test out different beaks, play a game, and use binoculars to spot different species in the preserve. This field trip includes a game, an experiment, and a birding hike.

NGSS Standards: LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4, ESS2, ESS3

Available in late March through May.

Examine life cycles through this interactive, outdoor field trip. Play a game, meet an animal up close, and take a look at the life cycles just beginning out in our pond! This field trip includes a visit with our box turtle, pond dipping, a hike, and a game.

NGSS Standards: LS1, LS3, LS4

Available year round.

Looking for something different? This is the field trip for you! Dissect an owl pellet, play as a vomiting vulture, search for creepy crawlies in the forest, and sculpt the perfect scat. This field trip includes owl pellet dissection, a game, a hike, and a craft.

NGSS Standards: LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4

Available April through September.

Teeny, tiny creatures are all around us — you just need to get a closer look! Insects take care of many different jobs, from pollinating to decomposing. Conduct field science through exploration and use of scientific tools like magnifying glasses! Discover the importance of these tiny helpers in our ecosystem. This field trip includes an insect search, a game, and a craft to take home. 

NGSS Standards: LS1, LS3, LS4

Available year round.

Think you have what it takes to survive in the wild? Learn to make and start a fire, build a shelter, and identify edible plants. This field trip includes shelter building, fire building, and an edible plant hike. 

**This field trip also extends to an optional full day. Select ‘Full Day Field Adventure’ at registration to add an afternoon session to join us for archery, compass reading, and water filter creation. The full day rate is $10.50 per student.

Available year round.

Head out to the trails to get a glimpse of Beaver Falls, our largest waterfall on the property! Discuss the essentials of Leave No Trace and gain expert knowledge about the flora and fauna here at TNI. This intermediate loop trail has hilly, moderate terrain, with some steep or rocky areas. Participants may get wet! This 2 hour field trip includes a naturalist led, 2.3 mile round trip hike to Beaver Falls. There is an option to add in a specific outdoor topic to focus on during the hike (tree/plant ID, mammals, habitats, birds, etc).

NGSS Standards: ESS2, ESS3, PS1, LS1, LS2, LS4

Available April through September.

Round and round we go, exploring the water cycle! Play a game as a water droplet, learn about our local watershed, and discover what makes water so important. This field trip includes a game, creek walk, and watershed model study.

Investigate mammal characteristics through skull, track, and fur activities! This field trip includes a hike, biofact activity, and art project.

Let’s look at numbers, shapes, and measurements, all while outside! From symmetry in nature, to finding the numerical data we need for plants, we’re rounding up our best outdoor math activities. This field trip includes a game, hike, and art activity.

Available December through March.

Go in depth to explore the ecological changes happening in nature during the wintertime. You’ll also test out an experiment with a mysterious gelatinous creature. This field trip includes an experiment and hike.

Learn what rocks can tell us, the basics of identification, and why rocks are so important. This field trip includes a hike, experiment, and game.

Get the dirt on dirt! Conduct soil experiments and learn about creatures living on and around logs. This field trip includes a hike, experiments, and vermicomposting study.

6th Grade & Up

Available year round.

Why do different birds have different beaks? Why do some animals play dead? Learn how physical and behavioral traits help animals to survive out in nature! This field trip includes a hike, a game, and an art challenge.

NGSS Standards: LS1, LS3, LS4

Available year round. 

Did you know that the creation of Velcro was inspired by a plant? Engineers and biologists often look to nature to inspire new creations. Learn about inventions based off of animal and plant traits, then create your own prototype of a bioinspired invention. This 2 hour field trip includes an introduction to biomimicry, followed by prototype construction. Limited to 30 students or less.

Available late March through late August.

Conduct citizen science through the use of scientific tools and experiments out in our creeks. Spend time searching for macroinvertebrates with nets and conducting tests to determine water quality! This field trip includes a hike, creek dipping, and water quality testing. 

NGSS Standards: LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4, ESS2

Available year round.

Think you have what it takes to survive in the wild? Learn to make and start a fire, build a shelter, and identify edible plants. This field trip includes shelter building, fire building, and an edible plant hike. 

**This field trip also extends to an optional full day. Select ‘Full Day Field Adventure’ at registration to add an afternoon session to join us for archery, compass reading, and water filter creation! The full day rate is $10.50 per student.

Available year round.

Head out to the trails to get a glimpse of Beaver Falls, our largest waterfall on the property! Discuss the essentials of Leave No Trace and gain expert knowledge about the flora and fauna here at TNI. This intermediate loop trail has hilly, moderate terrain, with some steep or rocky areas. Participants may get wet! This 2 hour field trip includes a naturalist led, 2.3 mile round trip hike to Beaver Falls. There is an option to add in a specific outdoor topic to focus on during the hike (tree/plant ID, mammals, habitats, birds, etc).

NGSS Standards: ESS2, ESS3, PS1, LS1, LS2, LS4

Investigate mammal characteristics through skull, track, and fur activities! This field trip includes a hike, biofact activity, and art project.

Let’s look at numbers, shapes, and measurements, all while outside! From symmetry in nature, to finding the numerical data we need for plants, we’re rounding up our best outdoor math activities. This field trip includes a game, hike, and art activity.

Available December through March.

Go in depth to explore the ecological changes happening in nature during the wintertime. You’ll also test out an experiment with a mysterious gelatinous creature. This field trip includes an experiment and hike.

Learn what rocks can tell us, the basics of identification, and why rocks are so important. This field trip includes a hike, experiment, and game.

Get the dirt on dirt! Conduct soil experiments and learn about creatures living on and around logs. This field trip includes a hike, experiments, and vermicomposting study.

Deposit/Cancellation Policy

Effective Spring 2020, TNI will require a deposit for all field trips in order to secure a date on our calendar. The deposit may be made through our online registration system or a check, but it must be received no later than 30 days before the program date. You will receive final confirmation from our staff once your program is on the calendar.

The deposit is $105, which is equivalent to the minimum program fee and will be credited towards the cost of the program. This deposit is only refundable in the case of TNI needing to cancel the program due to unforeseen circumstances, such as a hazardous weather event. If a school cancels their field trip within two weeks of their scheduled date, they lose their deposit and a new deposit will be required to reschedule the program. If a school cancels their field trip with at least two weeks notice, the original deposit can be applied towards the rescheduled date.

Still Have Questions?

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions, located at the bottom of the page.

Contact

If you would like more information regarding field trips at TNI, please call us at 618-466-9930 or email us at info@thenatureinstitute.org.

Interested in a custom, virtual, or college field trip? Contact Lauren Scull, the Director of Education, at lscull@thenatureinstitute.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, but we do try to book one of your top 3 dates. We do our best to keep our online calendar as up to date as possible, but it is not always 100% accurate. If you’d like to make sure that a specific date is available before booking, please give us a call at (618) 466-9930 or email us at info@thenatureinstitute.org.

After we receive your form, one of the members of our Education Team will reach out to you via email to confirm your date and time, as well as clarify any other details that we may need. You will also receive a detailed email regarding your field trip after it’s been booked. If you don’t hear from us within 2 – 3 days of submitting your form, please reach out — your form may have not submitted!

All of our programs are entirely outdoors, so be sure to wear weather appropriate clothing, as well as closed toed shoes. We go out in rain, snow, and sun. Water bottles, sunscreen, and bug spray are also encouraged. Occasionally, in winter months, some activities may take place inside our classroom.

In the case of inclement winter weather or thunderstorms, your program will be rescheduled to an agreed upon date or cancelled. We close for winter weather when Alton Public Schools close.

The program activities will vary based on the topic. Plan to spend lots of time outside, go for a hike, discover new things in nature, and participate in fun, age – appropriate activities! Interested in learning more about the specific activities for the program? Drop us a line at (618) 466-9930, or email lscull@thenatureinstitute.org.

The only field trip that includes pond dipping is From Eggs to Legs. Vernal pools are very fragile environments due to their vast array of amphibians; we want to limit the amount of times that we enter their ecosystems. While it’s an excellent learning activity, we want to balance the health of the environment and our interest in exploring these areas.

Yes, our programs meet the Next Generation Science Standards. Please see below:

Field Trip  NGSS 
The Art of Adapting LS1, LS3, LS4
Budding Botanists LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4, ESS2
Creature Classification LS3, LS4
From Eggs to Legs LS1, LS3, LS4
Feathered Friends LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4, ESS2, ESS3
Grossology LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4
Insect Investigations LS1, LS3, LS4
Life in the Water LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4, ESS2
Trek to Beaver Falls ESS2, ESS3, PS1, LS1, LS2, LS4

Absolutely! There are picnic tables all around the outside of Talahi Lodge that are perfect for picnics. We do not have food service on site, so be sure to pack your own lunch! Please indicate on your booking request that you will be on site for a meal, as this helps us determine availability for other programming.

Visitors are welcome to enjoy roughly 7 miles of trails, as well as Discovery Woods, our certified Nature Explore classroom.